American Boating Association....

CHICAGO:
A LAKE MICHIGAN LURE

Located on the shores of Lake Michigan, Chicago is the heart of the Midwest--and is the heartbeat of some great boating. Along with great boating waters (sheltered and not), the windy city is home to world championship sports teams, renowned architecture that can be viewed on land and afloat, world-class museums and culture, lakefront parks, and a variety of neighborhoods that highlight Chicago’s diversity (and diverse cuisine like deep-dish pizza).

The first resident of what would become Chicago was Jean Baptiste Point du Sable, a fur trader who built the first settlement in 1779 at--appropriately enough--the mouth of the Chicago River overlooking Lake Michigan. The Town of Chicago was founded in 1833 and, by then, had a booming population of 350. Just four years later, the population was 4,170 and Chicago was incorporated as a city. In 1848, when the 100-mile Illinois and Michigan Canal was completed and the first locomotive arrived by rail, Chicago began cementing its role as a transportation hub for both boats and trains.

The Great Chicago Fire of 1871 claimed 300 lives and brought Chicago to its knees, but the disaster turned into an opportunity to plan and rebuild the entire city. This included the building of the “L” train system for the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition and, in 1909, a comprehensive plan for the city’s unobstructed lakefront, its citywide system of parks, and a green belt of forest preserves. All of this was highlighted during the highly successful 1933 World’s Fair, which was dubbed the “A Century of Progress” to show the progress since Chicago’s founding.

Chicago is a city of superlatives, including one of the finest collections of urban architecture in the world. The world’s first “skyscraper,” was built in Chicago (the 1885 Home Insurance Building, which no longer exists), which triggered the city’s reputation as a living museum of architecture. Today, that reputation includes: three of the world’s tallest buildings (Sears Tower, AON Center, and John Hancock); the world’s largest municipal building (Harold Washington Library); the second largest building in the U.S., behind the Pentagon (Merchandise Mart); and the world’s largest indoor marine mammal pavilion (Oceanarium).

The superlatives continue on or near the water. Of course, the city overlooks Lake Michigan, which is the second largest of the five Great Lakes and the only one completely within U.S. boundaries. The lake is 307 miles long and 118 miles wide, with a shoreline stretching 1,640 miles. It has an average depth of 279 feet, with a maximum of 923 feet. That’s a lot of lake boating, with Chicago serving as it’s a big city waterfront hub.

Chicago is also the home to the only river in the world that flows “backwards,” thanks to engineers reversing the Chicago River in 1900 for sanitary purposes. The city is also probably the only place in the world to dye a river green for St. Patrick’s Day!

With incredible waterfront and inland parks and gardens, Chicago’s official motto is “Urbs in Horto” (Latin for “city in a garden”)--and that doesn’t stop on the water. The Chicago Park District also features nine lakefront harbors (www.chicagoharbors.info) stretching from Lincoln Park in the north to Jack Park in the south. With accommodations for more than 5,000 boats, it’s the nation’s largest municipal harbor system!

In the last ten years, the Park District has invested more than $65 million to renovate and modernize harbor facilities, which include state-of-the-art floating docks, moorings, star docks, fuel facilities, and lots of other amenities for boaters (including a wealth of local boating information). The facilities are generally targeted at resident Chicago boaters, but transient docking and mooring is definitely available. The harbors are generally open from mid-May to mid-October (which is typically the extent of Lake Michigan’s “public” boating season).

Of course, there are many other privately-run marinas and anchorages (www.chicagoboaters.com) catering to visiting boaters. Around a dozen stretch along Lake Michigan’s Lakeshore Drive, offering a complete collection of full facilities. In addition, there are a number of public boat ramps along Lake Michigan (also see www.chicagoboaters.com), several of which include boater services!

Chicago boating doesn’t stop on the shores of Lake Michigan. The Chicago River is a great place to go boating and an especially interesting way to view the city’s architectural gems. There are even two marinas located on the river--Windy City Marina and River City Marina. Another nice thing about Chicago River boating is that it’s much more protected on windy days, it provides another access point to Lake Michigan, and it can extend the boating season into earlier in the spring and later in the fall. Other options beyond Lake Michigan include the Illinois River and Chain of Lakes.

Back off the water, Chicago is simply one of America’s greatest cities for exploration. From architecture to flavorful neighborhoods (including the largest Polish population outside Warsaw), Chicago is a Lake Michigan lure for big city (and big lake) boaters.

For more information, simply call 877-CHICAGO or 312-201-8847, visit www.cityofchicago.org/ExploringChicago, stop by one of two Visitor Information Centers (located at Chicago Waterworks, 163 East Pearson Street at Michigan Avenue, and the Chicago Cultural Center, 77 East Randolph Street). Two great websites specifically for boaters include: www.chicagoharbors.info and www.chicagoboaters.com.